Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013

Spotlight on at Di Maria not giving Messi-less Barcelona MADRID: With Lionel Messi sidelined with a thigh strain, new signing Neymar will have another chance to steal the up without a fight headlines from the World Player of the Year when Barcelona host Real Valladolid in La Liga tomorrow (2000 GMT). The MADRID: Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria will almost cer- Brazil forward shone in Messi’s absence in Barca’s 1-0 tainly lose his place in the starting lineup to world record sign- Champions League success at Celtic on Tuesday and the ing Gareth Bale when the Wales winger is back from injury but consensus is that he is already starting to justify the fee of he is not going down without a fight. 57 million euros ($77.5 million) the Spanish champions paid The Argentina international with the lethal left foot scored Santos in the close season to secure his services. twice in Wednesday’s 4-0 Champions League rout of FC Concern the frail-looking 21-year-old would be unable to Copenhagen and set up for the second of cope with the physicality of the European game appears his double with an eye-catching piece of skill. Known as unjustified and he has shown an impressive ability to take “fideo” (noodle), the whippet-like Di Maria has won over Real’s any punishment meted out by opposition defenders while demanding fans with his energy and commitment and was demonstrating a faultless work rate. He has also showcased recently cited by coach Carlo Ancelotti as an example for the his dazzling skills and although he has yet to hit the prolific rest of the squad to follow. goal-scoring form he has managed for his country he has Despite all that, Italian Ancelotti will have no choice but to set up five of Barca’s goals this term, four in La Liga and one relegate Di Maria, who comes from Lionel Messi’s birthplace of in the Champions League. Rosario, to the bench when Bale has recovered from a minor Coach Gerardo Martino praised Neymar for his maturity thigh strain. After agreeing to pay Tottenham Hotspur 100 after the Celtic crowd targeted him following the sending million euros ($136 million) for the Welshman in the close sea- off of home captain Scott Brown on Tuesday. Brown was son, Real president Florentino Perez would never allow the shown a straight red card with around half an hour left after world’s most expensive player to be left out of the starting for- hauling Neymar down and then kicking him in the back mation. when he was on the floor and thereafter the Brazilian’s With prolific Portugal forward Ronaldo, Spain playmaker every touch was greeted with a cacophony of boos and Isco and Perez favourite Karim Benzema, the struggling France whistles. striker, also ahead of him in the pecking order, Di Maria is like- Instead of allowing the provocation to affect his concen- ly to be used as second-half substitute even if his performanc- tration, he responded by freeing Alexis Sanchez on the right es merit a regular place in the team. The 25-year-old’s situa- with a superb pass and the Chilean crossed for Cesc tion has prompted speculation he could leave and several of Fabregas to head the only goal of the game. Neymar twice Real’s European rivals, including English Premier League clubs came close to scoring himself but Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Arsenal and Manchester City, have reportedly considered a Forster pulled off a couple of stunning saves. “He didn’t bid. need today’s game for us to know the class that he is in,” For the time being, Di Maria, who even has the same goal Martino told a post-match news conference. celebration as Bale where he makes a heart shape with his fin- Tomorrow’s game against struggling Real Valladolid, gers, is doing his best to convince Ancelotti but is almost cer- who are 16th in the standings, could be the ideal opportuni- tainly fighting in vain. If he does eventually decide to leave, his ty for Neymar to add to his one La Liga goal this term. Barca exit could prompt the same mutterings of discontent among are seeking a perfect eighth win in eight games and top the fans that greeted Mesut Ozil’s departure to Arsenal on transfer table alongside Atletico Madrid, who also have a maximum deadline day. “I am just working the same way as always,” Di 21 points and host Celta Vigo on Sunday (1000).—Reuters Maria told reporters after the Copenhagen match. “I am trying to show the coach that I want to play but the important thing is to keep up the effort,” he added. Di Maria’s ‘rabona’ assist for Zenit to extend Ronaldo’s second goal, flicking his left leg behind his right and chipping the ball into the centre of the area, was one of the highlights of Wednesday’s game and the move has become MADRID: Real Madrid’s Argentinean Angel di lead in Tomsk something of a trademark for the former Benfica player. Maria celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Unfortunately for Real fans, it may be another team who bene- Champions League Group B football match Real Madrid MOSCOW: Russian Premier League leaders Zenit St Petersburg fits from such sublime skills before long.— Reuters CF vs FC Copenhagen on October 2, 2013. — AFP look set to extend their winning run when they face struggling Tomsk on Sunday. Zenit, who are three points ahead of Moscow sides Lokomotiv and Spartak, are still missing first-choice goal- keeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev through injury. Midfielder Oleg No panic for Moyes at Manchester Utd Shatov, who picked up a knock in Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Austria Vienna, could also miss the game. Zenit’s LONDON: Two wins in six Premier heard around Old Trafford at the end of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid on transfer Italian manager Luciano Spalletti said he believed his team could League games have left anxious the West Brom defeat, United fans may deadline day. Arsenal are unbeaten in still perform at their best despite their crowded schedule. Manchester United fans wondering if think they have got it bad but next up 10 games in all competitions and the “I don’t think we will experience serious problems playing manager David Moyes is up to the job for Moyes’s men is a trip to bottom club Germany playmaker was central to the twice a week,” he said. “Roman Shirokov and Domenico Criscito although the man himself is refusing to Sunderland, who sacked coach Paolo Di Gunners’ 2-0 win over Napoli in the have recovered from injuries and are currently gaining their best push the panic button. The English Canio last month following a string of Champions League on Tuesday, scoring form. “They both are very skilled players and their return to the champions have endured their worst poor results. his first goal for the club. ranks will add our team some freshness and will give me more start to the season since 1989 and are in Whatever the result on Saturday, “He enjoys playing football, he enjoys opportunities to vary the line-up. I don’t see any serious prob- the bottom half of the table in 12th with Moyes is unlikely to suffer the same fate playing with his partners,” said Wenger. lems and look forward with optimism. I believe we’re going the seven points after back-to-back league any time soon, according to former “Of course he has given everyone at the right way.” Meanwhile, the Moscow sides have run into problems defeats against Manchester City and, United defender Gary Neville, now a club a lift and belief, and belief is a part as none of the venues in the capital is currently fit for Premier more surprisingly, West Bromwich pundit for Sky Sports. “David Moyes will of the success of football.” Liverpool, League football. Albion. be given time over three or four years to two points behind the leaders, host Spartak Moscow failed to find an alternative venue for their “I have been in situations very similar build a football club and learn the ropes. struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday match with Terek Grozny after the pitch at Lokomotiv stadium, to this at my old clubs Everton and also It takes time and he’ll be given time, just boosted by last weekend’s goalscoring which they are using as their home ground this season, was pro- at Preston. You get on and you do the as Arsenal have done with Arsene return of striker Luis Suarez against nounced unfit. On Wednesday, the Russian Premier League right things,” Moyes told reporters Wenger,” said Neville, who retired as a Sunderland after a 10-match ban for bit- ordered Spartak to play the match at Yekaterinburg, 1,700 kilo- before his side secured a creditable 1-1 player in 2011 after almost 20 years at ing Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. metres from Moscow. The problem is due to the reconstruction draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in the the club. “If you think about the early “He’s just given us more confidence,” of the Luzhniki and Dynamo stadiums for the 2018 World Cup Champions League on Wednesday. “I years of Sir Alex Ferguson, he was team mate Lucas Leiva told the club and the unfavorable weather conditions in the Russian capital in haven’t changed what I have done. I will allowed to develop into a presence. In website (www.liverpoolfc.com). “The September, when heavy rain caused serious damage to the pitch- continue to do that. The results will the first three or four years he was at the squad that we had without him was a es at the Khimki and Lokomotiv arenas. Spartak will be without a come. I have no doubt about that. club he was coming under intense pres- good one, but with him back in it, we’ll string of first-team regulars as their injury list includes Italian “It is always the thing at Manchester sure. “David Moyes, there’s no doubt be even better. He’s one of the best in defender Salvatore Bocchetti, Ukrainian goalkeeper Andrei United - everyone is interested in them. about it, is still learning to come to the world.” Seventh-placed Manchester Dykan, Brazilian midfielder Romulo and Paraguayan forward It is a talking point for everybody terms with his squad and getting to City, who have yet to win in the league Lucas Barrios, while recently-signed German defender Serdar throughout the world,” added the Scot know his players and the culture of the away from home after losing 3-2 at Tasci will also be missing. Terek, who clinched their season’s first who has not been far from the back club,” he added. On Sunday, West Brom Aston Villa last time out, return to the win over champions CSKA Moscow last weekend, will be without pages of British newspapers since taking host league leaders Arsenal, who have Etihad Stadium to face Everton on injured Polish midfielder Maciej Rybus. —AFP over from Alex Ferguson. With boos been rejuvenated since the arrival of Saturday.—Reuters